Can end marking machine



Feb. 27, 1945. R, E, J, NORDQUIST 2,370,184

CAN END MARKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27. 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTOENQQS Feb 1945- R. E. J. NORDQUIST 2,370,134

CAN END MARKING MACHINE I Filed Feb. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1945- R. E. J. NORDQUISTI 2,370,184

CAN END MARKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet Z5 I BY W ZZ WW 1945. R. E. J. NORDQUlST CAN END MARKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 2'7, 1941 V ATTOENEY S Patented Feb. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE CAN END MARKING MACHINE Ronald E. J. Nordqnlst, Maplewood, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 27, 1941, Serial No. 380,951

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for marking the end seams of cans or containers with a plurality of shallow indentations which are spaced along the end seam in such relationship as to indicate in code information as to various features such as day, month. and year in which the can was packed, the line the can was made on, or the line on which it was packed, or in the case of beer cans, the vat from which the beer was taken or any other desired information.

The marks by themselves give nov information to the public and can only be de-coded or interpreted by persons having a gauge or other means of determining certain relationships. A gauge may be used, as an example, by the inspectors or ofiicials in packing plants and can making factories so they may have a. check on canned products shipped to customers. Obviously such a gauge may be a simple means of measurement or may be a very complicated scale depending upon the complication of the marks.

The machine which comprises the subject of this invention receives the cans to be marked in a horizontal rolling position, therolling cans entering a lifting conveyor comprising two spaced and parallel chains transversely connected by spaced rods which, between them form pockets for the rolling cans.

Guide rails on the sides confine the rolling cans to a predetermined path of travel. Upon leaving the conveyor chain the cans fall into peripheral pockets of a turret rotating on a horizontal axis, and here also side guide rails retain the cans in the turret pockets. The turret carries the cans downwardly along a curved path of travel, along which marking dies are arranged in the order desired for the particular marks wanted on the cans. The cans during this course of travel have i ight rotation while still retained but loosely in the turret pockets as will be further explained.

The marking device comprises a series of die blocks held against endwise movement by a clamp lever and against lateral movement by the walls of a slot formed in a bracket in which they rest when in adjusted position. Each marking block is formed with a raised indenting or marking ridge which contacts the peripheral edge of the can seam as the cans roll along the positioned dies. Each block in the set denotes one code mark, as for example, one for the day, one for the month, one for the year, one for the vat,

one for the line, etc.

A marking block will always have the same relative location in the assembly bracket, although blocks of like character can be inter changed as desired. For example, the day block must be changed each day, the month block changed each month, etc. Each block therefore has its marking ridge in a different position on the face. Numbered gauge marks on the bracket. adjacent the position of the block facilitate placing of the proper block. All of the blocks. are made in the same way with gauge marks for each block on the holding bracket so that any combination of blocks maybe obtained and selected to indicate in code the information it is desired to record in the peripheral edge of the can seam.

Provision is made for applying a slight pressure to the rolling cans so that the marking ridges on the blocks will be sure to make an indent in. the outer surface of the can seam. For this'purpose the marking blocks project a small distance inwardly of the can. guide rail so that when a can rides up onto the marking blocks it shifts inwardly toward the center of the turret. The can end seam, diametrically opposite the mark: ing blocks, is thereby pressed against a yieldable can driving or rotating disc which is normally concentric with the turret. This yielding driving disc is capable of slight radial movement as will be hereinafter. described. v

During the rolling and marking operation it is desirable in the event that the cans are lithographed. to keep the lithographed sides of the body out of rubbing contact with the walls of the turret pocket to prevent any abrading action on the lithographed surfaces. This is accome. plished in a manner that will be further described.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an automatic machine for markingjin code the peripheral edges of the canseams with spaced indents to allow one having decoding knowledge as to the relative location of the marks, to gain certain information of interest as to manufacture or filling of the cans such as the day,. year, factory where the can was made, or other desirable data.

It is also an object of the invention to provide, in a machine of this type, a series, of interchange-, able die blocks arranged in. proper. order to imprint the correct indents on the can seams in the desired locations.

It is a further object of the invention to arrange the marking devices alon the path of rolling cans so that the seam will be marked by the ridges in the die blocks as the cans are rolled thereover.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for applying a slight pressure on the rollin". cans to insure proper contact and marking as the cans are rolled over the dies.

It is also a further object of the invention to provide means for causing the rolling cans to advance slightly ahead of the walls of the turret pockets so that lithographed surfaces will not be damaged or scratched.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine showinga procession of cans passing therethrough;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially along the line 2+2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the broken line 3--3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a combined vertical section and front elevation with'parts broken away, as viewed substantially along-the broken line 5-5 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section in ,detail of marking die parts as taken substantially along the broken line 6-6 in Fig. 5. v

Reference should first be made to Fig. 2 in which the numerals II and I2 represent two sets of sprockets carrying entrance and exit conveyor chains I3 and I4. Each double chain has transverse connecting feeding bars I5 between which sealed cans a are confined as they are conveyed to or over the marking dies in their travel from right to left through the machine as viewed in this figure. Arranged in operative relation between the double sprockets II and I2 is a feeding turret I8 which receives unmarked filled cans from the entrance conveyor chain I3 and delivers the marked cans to the exit conveyor chain I4.

Sprockets, conveyor chains, turret, etc., are all housed in a main frame which consists of a base or bed I! (Fig. 3) which carries a pair of spaced upright side frames I8 (see also Fig. 1). The cans a in their travel through the machine pass between the frames I8. The double sprockets II and I2 and also the dual conveyor chains I3 and I4 where they take over the sprockets are located between the side frames. Turret I6 is likewise disposed between the side frames.

Double sprocket II is secured to a horizontal shaft I9 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is journaled for rotation in the side frames I8. In a similar manner the double sprocket I2 is secured to and rotates with a horizontal shaft 20 which in its turn is journaled in the side frames I8.

Turret I6 comprises a central sleeve 2I (Figs. 2 and 3) and spaced disc-like sections 22 in which the turret pockets are formed. At the rear the turret sleeve 2| extends through and is journaled in the rear side frame I 8. In front the sleeve is mounted on a collar 23 which is keyed to a horizontal shaft 24.

In the front the shaft 24 is journaled in the front side frame I8 as shown at the left in Fig. 3. At the rear the shaft passes through and is keyed. onto a sleeve hub 25 (Fig. 1) of a gear which will be described later in connection with a. consideration of the driving of the various parts of the machine. For the present it may be said that the gear hub 25 is journaled in a bearing 25 formed in the rear end of the turret sleeve 2|.

The marking die unit designated broadly by the numeral 21, is located at the bottom and to the left of the turret I6 (Fig. 2) being so positioned that the peripheral seam edge of the can a will ride thereover and move along with the turret. Referring now to Fig. 5 some detailed consideration may now be given the marking die unit 21.

The marking device is carried in a' bracket 28 mounted on the frame base I! and may be pushed into a marking position or pulled out to a changing position. This bracket has an upper arcuate top surface 29 which is concentric with the rotating turret I6 when the bracket is in also Fig. 3) which forms a seat for a series of individual die blocks CH of the marking die unit.

The marking blocks 3I are held against dis placement by an arcuate clamping bar or ring 32 which is disposed within a slot seat cut into the bracket 28, an inner face of the bar being grooved to complete the T slot construction. A pin 33 in the bar provides for easy removal when changing dies. A thumb screw 34 is threaded into the bracket 28 and holds the clamping ring 32 tightly against the die blocks 3 I.

The die blocks 3i are shouldered at the bottom so that they fit the T slot closely and the die blocks are arranged end to end. The T slot 30 terminates in a blind wall at the bottom and is open at its upper end. A clamping screw unit 35 (Fig. 5) threaded in the top of the bracket 28 at the upper end of the T slot, presses down on the top die block SI and clamps the entire end to end die assembly against any longitudinal displacement.

Each marking block 3I is formed with a raised suitably positioned marking ridge 36 with which the peripheral edge of the can seam engages as it moves over the die unit. The location of each die block 3i in the slot 30 indicates a particular class of the code mark. For example. the lowermost block in the end to end assembly may indicate the day on which the container was filled. The one directly thereabove may be used to indicate the month, etc.

A particular code block will always have the same position in its seat in the bracket 28 but different day blocks, for example, will have different positions of the marking ridge 36. Obviously for the day block there will be 31 different marking ridge positions. has gauge marks 31 (Fig. 6) arranged alongside the blocks to facilitate proper placing of each selected block in its assembled position.

It has been mentioned that the bracket 28 may be slid out of operative position. This is to facilitate removal and replacement of the marking blocks 3I. The bracket 28 is made to slide at right angles to the path of travel of the cans as they pass through the marking station (Figs. 3, 5 and 6) and is mounted directly on the frame bed I7.

The bracket 28 and the entire marking die unit are held in operative position by means of a spring pressed manually operative pin 39. the lower end of which. as at 40 (Fig. 6) engages in a hole ll in the bed. The bracket 28 slides in slotted gibs 52 (Fig. 5), bolted to the bed I1 and a stop 43 (see also Fig. 3) formed on the lower face of the bracket operates in a groove formed in the bed. This construction prevents pulling the unit off of its mounting. The bracket 28 also The bracket 23 preferably has an overhanging shoulder part 44 for engagement against the front of the bed H to definitely locate the propermarking position for the marking blocks 3| relative to the path of travel of the cans through the machine.

The cans a are guided in a sinuous path of travel through the machine by means of suitably formed guide rails along which the seam ends of the cans pass. One pair of inner guide rails 45 (Fig. 2) keeps the cans in line while they are being carried up by the conveyor 13. At the top these rails may be an integral part of a tubular member 46 mounted on the sprocket shaft it. Such rails carry the cans over the shaft and then extend down on the other side of the sprocket shaft and toward the turret I 6 as semi-circular guide sections 41.

A pair of outer guide rails 49 cooperate with the rail parts 45, 46 and 4! to keep the cans in proper line for this portion of their travel and they assist in depositing each can in its proper pocket of the turret I6. The outer rails may be secured to the side frames as at 50. It is the turret I6 which delivers the cans to the marking device 21 and which assists in passing them through for marking.

Both of the curved guide rails 41 and 49 terminate at a position where the can a is fully seated in the turret pocket. Other guide members are then used to insure that the can does not become displaced from its circular path of travel during the marking operation and that the marked can is properly delivered to exit guiderail sections. A

slightly different guide arrangement is used for the passage of the can while in the turret prior to the marking action, during the marking, and for a slight distance in turret travel following the marking operation.

Such a guide system comprises a cylindrical backing plate 5| (Figs. 2 and 3) which is formed with a rear ledge rail 52 and a front ledge rail 53 (see also Fig. 5). These ledge rails terminate just short of the lower runs of the chains 13 on one end and of the lower runs of the chains H! on the other end.

The backing plate 5| at one end is formed with lugs 5d which are nchored on a tie rid 55 extending between the side frames it. At the other or upper end, the plate is formed with lugs 55 which are anchored on a tie rod 51, extending between the side frames. At the front corner the backing plate 5! is cut out and slotted as at 58 to provide clearance for the bracket 28 and the marking unit 21 and this leaves a front guide rail section 59 extending alongside of the marking unit.

When the can is first delivered into the turret pocket it has no rotation on its axis. After the turret has carried it to a position over the cylindrical backing plate the can drops to the plate. Thereupon it may begin to roll slowly under the urge of gravity in a free rolling motion the wall of the turret at such time doubtless h'aving some restraining effect on the rotation 'of the can.

.After marking the cans are delivered to the may also be an integral partof the tubular member 62 thereupon guide and direct the cans for discharge with the conveyor M. A pair of outer guide rails =64 which are curved at their inner ends, are concentric to the sprocket shaft 20 and cooperate with the rail parts 5!, 52 and 53 to keep the cans in proper alignment for discharge. Rails 64 are also secured to the side frames H3 as at 51].

The turret disc members 22 function in the usual manner as arms of a turret for the can within the turret pocket, until the can reaches a position directly beneath the shaft 24. This is at the beginning of the marking operation and provision is made for positively-rolling the can along the marking unit 2?. At the same time a slight outward pressure is applied to the front seam of the can diametrically opposite the rolling contact with the marking blocks 31.

'Three results are obtained by such a construction. The can seam is rolled over th marking ridges 36 as contra-distinguished from sliding along the dies-or from being lifted by the turret. This makes clearer marks in the seam. Such a rolling of the can at the proper speed, which is slightly in excess of the speed of travel of the turret, advances the can wall forwardly of the side of the turret pocket and prevents any scratching of lithographing designs or coatings on the can Wall adjacent the double seam. A. clearer mark is obtained by pressing the can against the die blocks, such a pressure being effected through a spring pressed floating slide ring.

The collar 23, which it will be recalled is keyed to the shaft 24 at the front of the turret l5, abuts against a washer 55 (Fig. 3) which is also mounted on the shaft. An annular recess 65 is cut inthe adjacent face'o'f the collar 23 and a floating ring 51 is located in the recess. Such a ring is relatively thick acen't its periphery but is countersunk in front to provide a tapered conical wall '58. The back or thin part of the ring has radial slidingmovement in the recess 65. This ring is held against forward and rearward displacement by the recessed wall of the collar 23 and the rear wall of the washer -65.

The collar 23 carries fourstud's 69 see also Fig. 4) which extend into radial slots 'H cut in the rear face of the floating ring til. This construction insures uniform rotation between the collar 23, the shaft 24 and the ring 61 but allows for the radial movement of the ring relative to the collar.

The ring 61 is formed with an outwardly extending front peripheral flange 12, the rear wall of which engages in front of the rolling can a on its end seam during the marking operation as best shown :in Fig. 3. This wall is in alignment with the rear wall of the guide member 59 which is located in the slotted region 58 of the cylindrical backing plate 5| and this member 59 also engages in front of the rolling can.-

The floating ring .67 is urged downwardly on the top of the front seam of the can by a spring and roller device mounted on the forward end of the shaft 24. This device comprises a spider member 75 (Figs. 3 4 and 5) which is loosely mounted on the rear end of a bushing 16 which in turn is mounted on the shaft 24. Such a bushing is interposed between the washer 65 and the wall of a recess ll formed in the front side frame l8. Bushing T6 is'provided with a flanged head 18 against which. one end of a coil spring '19 rests. Thisspring is mounted on the bushing and the rear end of the spring engages against the spider l5 urging it toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3.

The spider 15 carries four rollers 81 (see also Fig. 5) which rest within the countersunk portion of the floating ring 6! and which bear upon the tapered wall 68 of the ring. Each roller 8| is mounted on a pin 82 carried in the spider 15. The dimension of the floating. ring 61 and the application of the spring pressed rollers 8! are such as to hold the floating ring concentric with the shaft 24 when the ring is not engaged by the seam of the can. As soon as the can comes into engagement with the floating ring 61, it slightly lifts the ring. This engagement in point of time is just before the can rides up on the marking blocks 3 i. This lifting of the floating ring is very slight and any shift in position is compensated for by a yielding of the spring 19 which permits the spider to slide or tilt sufiiciently to allow this lifting of the ring.

It will be understood in view of this construction that pressure is applied to the seam of the can at a point diametrically opposed to the point of contact of the can seam 0n the marking blocks. This insures a clean out marking action of each marking ridge 36 as the ridge is passed over by the moving can. The rotation of the can at such a time is such as to prevent any slippage between the seam and the marking blocks. In other words the peripheral travel of the outer surface of the can seam is equal to the lineal distance on the marking blocks which is traversed by such can seam.

This construction also prevents scratching of the lithographed or otherwise coated wall of the can against the wall of the turret pocket for when the can begins to rotate on its own axis as when it comes into engagement with the floating ring El, it moves away from the turret pocket Wall.

The rotation of the conveyor sprockets H and i2 and the turret I6 all in proper synchronism will now be considered and reference should be made to Figs. 1 and 2. For the purpose of this consideration a lower horizontal shaft 85 may be considered as the drive shaft. This shaft carries a gear 86 which meshes with a gear 81 the latter being keyed to the turret sleeve 2|. Gear 81 in turn meshes with a gear 88 secured to the procket shaft l9 and also with a gear 89 secured to the sprocket shaft 20. This insures uniform rotation in the proper direction of the sprocket H, the turret I6 and the sprocket 12 so that the procession of cans through the machine will be uniform and uninterrupted.

Drive shaft 85 also carries a gear 9| which meshes with a gear 92 secured to the shaft 24. This gear is integral with the sleeve hub 25 previously mentioned. The gear 86 is smaller in diameter than the gear 9| and this provides for the diiTerential rotation between the turret l6 and the shaft 24. As this relates to the marking operation. the shaft 24, which determines the rotation of the floating ring 61, rotates at a slightly greater speed than the turret IB. Shifting motion of the floating ring as hereinabove described is the result of the speed differential.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for placing identifying marks on double seamed cans as they are moved along a predetermined path, the combination of means including a rotary turret having spaced peripheral pockets therein for loosely confining and moving the cans along said path, means comprising die members for indenting the outer surface of the double seam of said can as the cans pass along said die members, means including angularly disposed cooperating surfaces for yieldingly engaging both lateral and end surfaces of the cans as they pass along said die members simultaneously to roll and guide the cans thereover while applying a substantially uniform pressure on said cans directed toward said dies, whereby the said dies indent the said double seams as the cans are moved by said engaging means relative to said dies within the eripheral pockets of said turret.

2. A machine for marking the double seams of cans comprising means including a rotary turret having spaced pockets therein for loosely confining and advancing cans received by said turret pockets along a predetermined path, means along said path for supporting the said cans on their double seams, said supporting means including die members over which said double seams pass, yielding means for rolling and guiding simultaneously a said moving can over said die members at a speed slightly in excess of the peripheral speed of said turret so as to advance the said can out of engagement with its turret pocket wall, and marking means associated with said die members for indenting the respective double seams of said cans as the same are rolled thereover.

3. A machine for marking cans having ends double seamed thereto, comprising means including a rotatable turret having peripheral pockets therein for receiving and moving the cans on their sides in a predetermined direction of travel through the machine, a pathway over which cans are advanced by said turret pocket for contacting with said double seams and for indenting said double seams as the cans are advanced by rolling movement thereover, indenting means forming a part of the pathway over which said cans are rolled, said indenting means being raised slightly above the normal path over which said cans are rolled so that the cans are thereby displaced slightly from their normal path, and means for yieldingly engaging said cans with subtsantially uniform pressure diametrically opposite to their point of contact with said pathway and while thus displaced for rolling and advancing the cans slightly faster than normal, whereby each can is spaced from the others and its double seam rolled against and uniforml marked by said indenting means.

4. A machine for marking cans having double seamed ends applied thereto, comprising a pathway over which cans are advanced successively, a turret located adjacent said pathway for moving said cams over a part of the pathway, said turret having spaced peripheral pockets for individually receiving and loosely confining the cans therein, marking dies disposed in the pathway around said turret for contacting said cans, said marking dies being operative to shift said cans radially relative to the center of rotation of said turret. and means engaging said cans when so shifted for simultaneously guiding and rolling said cans over said dies at a speed slightly in excess of the peripheral speed of said turret so as to successively advance the cans out of engagement with their respective. turret pocket walls; said; can engaging and rolling means being further operative .to. apply substantially even pressure against all cans to cause said marking dies to indent said cans uniformly as they-are rolled thereover by said engaging means.

5. A machine for marking cans having ends double seamed thereto, comprising means. for moving cans successively over a predetermined pathway; said means. including a rotary turret adjacent said pathway, said turret having spaced pockets for receiving and loosely, confining said cans, marking dies located along the said path way where it extends around said turret and acting to shift said cans radially as they are moved thereover, indenting means carried on said marking dies for contacting the cans as they are moved thereover, and means adjacent to and moving in the same direction as said turret for applying pressure to said cans when so shifted to cause said indenting means to mark said cans, said pressure applying means simultaneously cooperating with said dies to move said cans slightly faster than and out of contact with said rotary turret during the said marking operation.

6. In a machine for placing identifying marks on the double seamed ends of cans, the combination of means including a rotary turret having spaced peripheral pockets therein for loosely confining and moving cans through an arcuate path of travel, marking dies arranged along said path for contacting the double seams of said mov ing cans, said marking dies being positioned at a less radial distance than the normal distance of said arcuate path so that the said cans are moved radially as they move onto and off said marking dies, means for engaging said cans while they are contacting said dies for rolling the cans at a speed slightly in excess of the peripheral speed of said turret so as to advance the cans out of engagement with the turret pocket Walls, said can engaging and rolling means being further operative to simultaneously guide and apply pressure on said cans to cause them to contact said dies accurately and in firm rolling engagement so that imprints from said dies are made uniformly and clearly on the double seams of said cans.

7. In a machine for marking cans, the combination of an arcuate path through which the cans are movedin a predetermined path of travel, means including a rotary turret having spaced pockets therein for moving the cans while loose- 1y confined in said pockets in succession along said path, marking dies forming a part of said arcuate path, said die being composed of separate unit elements each With special identifying marks thereon, means for removably securing said dies in position along saidpath, means cooperating With said moving means for contacting simultaneously end and lateral surfaces of the cans as they pass over said dies to guide and to impart definite rolling movement to said cans in cooperation with said dies, the rolling movement of said cans being at a speed slightly in excess of the peripheral speed of said turret, said can contacting means being further operative to apply pressure against the rolling-cans to insure said identifying marks being impressed accurately and uniformly on said cans.

8. In a machine for marking cans having ends double seamed thereto, the combination of means including a rotatable turret having peripheral pocketstherein for receiving and advancing the cans successively along a pathspaced: fromr-a-nd. cooperating; with said markingdies and having movement in the same direction with. but ata difierent speed from. that of ,said turretfor engaging and: moving the can ahead.- of its. normal advancement by said. turret while; the can traverses-the marking: dies to. roll the; can along. the: dies and to press its. seam thereon to indent and mal'kthe can seam.

9. In a machine for marking cans, the combination of a turret having spaced pockets for moving can successively along a predetermined pathway, marking dies located in said pathway for engaging an advancing can, and pressure means spaced from and cooperating with said marking dies for engaging and shifting the can in its turret pocket out of engagement with the pocket wall while rolling said can over said marking dies and for pressing the can against said dies to indent and mark the can.

10. In a machine for marking cans having ends double seamed thereto, the combination of a turret having spaced pockets for moving cans successively along a curved pathway, circular marking dies located in said pathway concentrically of said turret for engaging an advancing can, and pressure means spaced from and cooperating with said marking dies for engaging and shifting the cam in its turret pocket out of engagement with the pocket wall while rolling the can end seam over said marking dies and'for pressing the can seam against said dies to indent and mark the can seam.

11. In a machine for placing identifying marks on the double seamed ends of cans, said machine including a marking die element for engaging and indenting the can seams: a rotatable pressure ring member for engaging the can seams substantiallydiametrically opposite to the marking die element for forcing the cans into rolling engagement with said element, said ring member having a floating mounting in a direction normal to its rotatable axis so as to be movable transversely in a lateral direction toward and away from the seam of a said can end when the ring is engaged by the can to move the ring to an eccentric position relative to its normal axis of rotation.

12. In a machine for placing identifying marks on the double seamed ends of cans, said machine including a marking die element for engaging and indenting the can seams, the combination of a rotatable ring support, a pressure ring member movably mounted on said support for engaging the can seams substantially diametrically opposite to the marking die element for forcing the cans into rolling engagement with said element, said ring member having a floating mounting on said support in a direction normal to the rotatable axis of the support so as to be movable transversely in a lateral direction toward and away from said support and the seam of a said can end when the ring is engaged by the can to move the ring to an eccentric position relative to its support, and resilient means for forcing said ring against its said support to normally maintain axial concentricity therebetween.

13. In a machine for placing identifying marks on the double seamed ends of cans, said machine including a plurality of markin die elements for engaging and indenting the can seams, the combination of a rotatable ring support having a pin member projecting laterally therefrom, a. pressure ring member having a radial slot engaging said pin member for movably mounting the ring on said support, said ring member being adapted to engage the can seams substantially diametrically opposite to said marking die elements for a Y forcing the cans into rolling engagement with said elements, the movable mounting of said ring member on its support being of a floating character for relative movement of the ring in a direction normal to the rotatable axis of the sup- 10 RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST. 

